The interview was about Beverley Wang’s new podcast ‘It’s Not A Race’, but it took an awkward turn as Red Symons asked: “What’s the deal with Asians?” and “Are you yellow?"
An edited version of the 20-minute interview went to air on ABC Radio Melbourne with a podcast later appearing online.
The audio has now been removed from the ABC Radio website, after a backlash on social media.
In a statement, the ABC says it is conducting “a review of the editorial processes regarding this content and its use”.
"ABC Radio apologises for the content going to air."
An ABC spokesperson says Symons will be appearing on the airwaves come Monday, but did not respond to questions on whether Symons will face disciplinary action.
Later admitting he had not listened to Wang's new podcast, Symons began his interview by saying he had wanted to start up his own interview segment on race relations in Australia, called “what’s the deal with Asians”.
Encouraging Symons to further explore that question, Wang invited Red to take up the discussion.
“OK, let’s tackle that. What is the deal with Asians, Red?”
Red rebutts with: “No, I ask the questions, what is the deal with Asians?”
He soon follows up with "Are you yellow?"
Beverley’s cultural background as a Canadian of Taiwanese descent prompted a heated exchange.
Symons: “Do they speak Mandarin or Cantonese?
Wang: “Who’s ‘they’?”
Symons: “The people in Taiwan.”
Wang: “They speak Taiwanese and they speak Mandarin. And in Canada, where I’m from, they speak English and French.”
Symons: “I knew that. You’re probably from the west coast of Canada.”
Wang: “Why do you think that, Red?”
Symons: “Because it’s closer to Asia.”
Wang: “I’m just asking, don’t get defensive.”
Symons also asked Wang about her thoughts on the controversial "blackface" skit that aired on the Hey Hey It's Saturday show in 2009, where he appeared as a judge of the ‘Red Faces’ talent segment.
In 2009, five men covered in face paint and wearing wigs re-enacted their Jackson Jive skit from earlier years of the show, but with the Michael Jackson character this time wearing white face paint.
Critcism from Harry Connick Jr forced an on-air apology from the show’s host Daryl Somers.
Symons said he felt the criticism of the skit was unfair.
“I remember thinking at the time that it had become uncomfortable because Harry Connick Jr felt most uncomfortable with someone wearing what is alleged to be blackface,” Symons told Wang in the interview.
Wang questioned the use of the word “alleged” to describe the black face paint.
“The make-up is there. It’s definitely black make-up,” she said.
The interview doesn't end before Symons quizzes Wang on her “birth name”, calling her “Jenny".
"When Red invited Beverley onto his program to talk about the podcast, here's what happened," the page description read.
In Wang's latest episode of her show she asks: “What’s the deal with people asking: what’s the deal with Asians?"
She goes on to interview comedian Michael Hing, who works on SBS program 'The Feed', and ABC Double J host Caroline (Caz) Tran on their experiences.
The Red Symons interview has drawn sharp criticism on social media, including from ABC colleagues who expressed their dismay.
In defence of Symons, ABC presenter Jonathan Green said the full, unedited audio was never intended to be broadcast.
A number of social media users could not hide their shock at the bizarre twists and turns of the questioning.
Another ABC colleague, Joel Werner, said it had been a mistake to pull down the audio, instead inviting people to engage in the debate.
